Lyon v Rangers

Champions League, Group E match
Date: Tuesday, 2 October
Kick-off: 1945 BST
Venue: Stade de Gerland
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Rangers manager Walter Smith says he is unlikely to risk striker Jean-Claude Darcheville in Tuesday's Champions League clash with Lyon.

Darcheville played only eight minutes of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Motherwell before exiting with a hamstring strain.

But, while still a doubt, he travelled with the squad to France on Monday.

Lyon are still missing veteran France goalkeeper Gregory Coupet and Brazil defender Cris through injury but do not have any further injury worries.

Interview: Rangers manager Walter Smith

Full-back Stevie Smith was Rangers only major injury absentee as Rangers flew out to France on Monday morning.

Darcheville was on the flight after undergoing intensive treatment on Sunday after being withdrawn so early after being introduced as a half-time substitute at Fir Park.

The French striker had been in sparkling form when Rangers beat Stuttgart 2-1 at Ibrox in their opening group game.

And, despite having Daniel Cousin, Lee McCulloch, Nacho Novo and Kris Boyd as replacements should Darcheville lose his fitness race, manager Walter Smith favours the Frenchman in the lone striker role adopted for European games.

Smith said: "The biggest factor in the decision will be whether we will be taking the risk of losing Jean-Claude for a longer period of time if we play him tomorrow night.

"He is really doubtful for the game. He will have to show there is no chance that we will cause further damage to his injury by playing him too early."

Lyon (from): tbc

Rangers (from): McGregor, Hutton, Cuellar, Weir, Papac, Whittaker, Ferguson, Thomson, Faye, McCulloch, Naismith, Boyd, Cousin, Darcheville, Carroll, Beasley, Novo, Hemdani.

BIG MATCH STATS

Head-to-heads

These clubs are facing each other for the first time in European competition.

Olympique Lyon have a 100% home record against Scottish opponents (won two of two); Rangers have won two of 11 European matches on French soil.

European history

Olympique Lyon are competing in the CL for the eighth time, and have been ever-present since 2000-01. They have reached the quarter-finals on three occasions. They were also European Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals in 1963-94, losing to Sporting.

This season is Rangers' 47th in Europe and eighth in the Champions League. In 2005-06, they were the first Scottish team to survive the Champions League group phase and reached the last 16.

Current European form

Olympique Lyon were beaten 3-0, away to Barcelona in their opening group match; Rangers defeated VfB Stuttgart 2-1 through goals by Charlie Adam and Jean Claude Darcheville.

Lyon are without a win in the last five Champions League matches and have not scored in the last three; Rangers are unbeaten in seven - a run which started with six consecutive draws. Their last defeat in the Champions League was more than two years ago at Internazionale (1-0). They're without a win in nine CL matches away from home since defeating AS Monaco on 20 September 2000.

Player and disciplinary info

Fred (Olympique Lyon) is suspended for this match. Sidney Govou will make his 50th Champions League appearance, if he plays. All his previous 49 CL appearances were for Olympique Lyon.

Rangers reserve goalkeeper Graeme Smith celebrates his 25th birthday the day after the match.

Other miscellaneous facts

Karim Benzema who has already scored nine league goals this season, has also netted three goals in five CL matches.

On Saturday, Olympique Lyon beat RC Lens 3-0 to top in the French league with 19 points from nine games; Rangers drew 1-1 at Motherwell to leave them trailing Celtic on goal difference at the top of the SPL.

Definitions of terms used:-

Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93.
Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches.
European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League).
Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded.

Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports

Source: BBC Sport